I am surprised why Gopichand is still quiet, says Jwala

New Delhi: Embattled shuttler Jwala Gutta on Friday said she is surprised that India's chief badminton coach Pullela Gopichand is still silent on the proposed life ban on her by BAI for an alleged disciplinary breach.

"I am really surprised why the chief coach is quiet. Why he has nothing to say?," asked Jwala. "Former coaches like Arif sir and Vimal sir have spoken out. Vimal sir was the coach of Banga Beats, he also came out with his statement. If they can speak out, why can't the chief coach?”

"I mean he is not just the coach of his academy but of the whole country. He can tell me that Jwala what you did is wrong but he should take a stand. Why is he not commenting?," she added. The Delhi High Court on Friday declined to grant stay on ongoing inquiry proceedings by a committee set up by the Badminton Association of India (BAI) against ace shuttler Jwala for alleged indiscipline.

The Hyderabadi shuttler, who is currently in Paris playing in the French Open, said the issue is affecting her performance. "I try that such things don't affect me but I am also a human being and it harasses me. All these are there in the back of my head, things which are happening in India," she said.

Asked if she has the support of her fellow shuttlers, Jwala said they are not openly voicing their support because they are scared of being victimized themselves. "I understand that my fellow Indian team members cannot voice their support openly because they are scared of themselves getting victimized. I am happy Ashwini (Ponnappa) stood by me," she said.

Following a disciplinary committee's recommendation for a life ban on Jwala on charges of indiscipline, a three-member committee was constituted earlier in October 2013 to evaluate the report and submit it within a month. The committee had issued a show cause notice to Jwala on October 14 and she approached the High Court challenging the notice and sought a stay on its proceedings against her.

However, the court said no interim order is required as the court has already granted relief to her by asking BAI to allow her to participate in the national and international tournament. The court granted her two weeks time to respond to the committee's show cause notice.

The court had on October 10 stayed the BAI's decision not allowing her to take part in any international tournament in or outside the country in view of the disciplinary committee's recommendation for life ban on her. The BAI's disciplinary committee has recommended a life ban on Jwala for allegedly trying to stop some players of her franchise Krrish Delhi Smashers from playing a match against Banga Beats in the Indian Badminton League in August.

A controversy had erupted during the August 25 tie when Delhi Smashers had allegedly threatened to pull out against Banga Beats over the last-minute replacement of injured singles player Hu Yun of Hong Kong with Denmark's Jan Jorgense. Reacting to Jwala's statement, Gopichand said: "I spoke to her and she said she will call me back in 10 minutes as she was with her lawyer. I think it was a Monday. But she didn't call me back.”

"Also before that, I had spoken to her and her manager called up, saying that she was in a meeting," Gopichand said.